This is our culture corner. Your weekly Egyptian cultural compass.

Hey there,

We begin this newsletter with a beautiful and tender poem by Egyptian poet Salah Jahin, titled Tea with Milk. Often, the most memorable poems are those that capture the moments we overlook in everyday life; the simple pleasures like sharing a cup of tea with milk with a loved one.

In this poem, Jahin paints an intimate portrait of two married lovers sitting together in the early hours of the day, immersed in the gentle sunlight and the calm atmosphere surrounding them.

Reading the poem, you can almost feel the warmth of the tea, the softness of the morning light, and the affection that fills the space between them. He has the ability to make a simple cup of tea feel as though it were the most important moment in the world.

We hope this poem inspires you to look at your own life with the same sense of wonder and appreciation, to find beauty in the small moments and to romanticize them, just as Salah Jahin does.

Best,

Mirna Abdulaal

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Feature

Poetry and Journalism

Today, it is rare to find poetry published in newspapers anywhere in the world, let alone in Egypt. While political poetry, and the use of art more broadly to express strong opinions, challenge injustice and respond to current events, remain alive and influential, its presence within journalism has largely faded.

Journalism is often associated with a serious and direct style of writing, one that prioritizes facts, clarity, and immediacy. Poetry, by contrast, embraces metaphor, emotion, and reflection. For many, these two forms may seem incompatible, leaving little room for poetry within the pages of a newspaper.

Yet during Salah Jahin's time, poetry occupied a meaningful place in public discourse. Jahin regularly published poems in newspapers, often responding to political developments and social realities as they unfolded. These poems kept people aware of the injustices and struggles taking place around them. After all, one of the greatest dangers is not simply the existence of wrongdoing, but our failure to recognize it.

What to Read

Tea with Milk

“Four hands at the breakfast table. Four lips drinking tea with milk,” is how Salah Jahin opens his poem Tea with Milk. The pairing of hands and lips is neither accidental nor incidental. It evokes a union between two people whose movements mirror one another in the simple ritual of sharing a morning cup of tea.

There are countless ways for people to connect, but Jahin intimately shows that companionship reveals itself in the smallest moments, in eating, drinking, sitting, and moving through life together. The lovers’ synchronized gestures speak to a harmony between their inner worlds.

As their hands lift their cups and their lips meet the tea, their spirits also seem equally attuned, moving with the same gentle pace.

What to Listen to

Maqsouda

Maqsouda, an Arabic word that can mean both “intentional” and “poem,” is a journey into the rich world of Arabic poetry. Poets Zeina Hashem Beck and Farah Chamma explore the beauty, meaning, and relevance of poems in contemporary life. At its heart, the podcast seeks to bring poetry closer to people by transforming it from a distant literary form into a natural part of everyday conversation. It is driven by a shared desire to make Arabic poetry more accessible, approachable, and deeply felt, whether through recitation, discussion, or reflection.

What to Watch

Sawa Sawa

A gentle love story between Ibrahim and Ahlam, two young people from a working-class neighborhood, is tested by a series of challenges and conflicts. As they struggle to protect their relationship, their lives are further disrupted by the arrival of an obsessive man whose dangerous fixation threatens to upend everything they hold dear. Set against a backdrop of romance, humanity, and suspense, the story explores the resilience of love in the face of adversity.

Watch it here.

What to Eat

Summer Ramen

When the summer heat makes the thought of a steaming bowl of soup feel impossible, summer ramen arrives as the perfect answer. Served chilled and layered with vibrant toppings, it delivers all the comfort and satisfaction of traditional ramen with a refreshing seasonal twist. The noodles are silky and springy, the broth light and bright, and every bite bursts with crisp vegetables, tender protein, and subtle umami flavors.

What to Visit

Daleela

Women's health deserves open, honest conversations, and that's exactly what you'll find at the Daleela Women's Health Summit 2026. Whether you're curious about hormones, fertility, nutrition, skincare, intimacy, or overall well-being, this summit offers a welcoming space to learn, ask questions, and gain insights from leading medical experts. More than just a series of talks, it's an opportunity to connect with a community of women who share similar experiences, challenges, and aspirations.

Saudi Spotlight

Driverless Cars

On 31 March, the Transport General Authority launched Saudi Arabia’s first public autonomous vehicle route, linking Hayat Mall and Riyadh Gallery Mall with driverless electric cars. In testing, these vehicles completed 1,700 trips, carried 3,000 passengers and covered 30,000 kilometres without a human at the wheel.